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->''"You got guns on us. You decide to shoot, we're dead. Up top, they got grenades. They drop them down here, you're dead. That's a Mexican Standoff, and that was not the deal. No trust, no deal."''-->-- '''Lt. Aldo Raine''', ''Film/InglouriousBasterds''

A stalemate where everyone has a weapon pointed at someone else. All the threats are equally balanced to ensure a MutualDisadvantage; no one is walking away from this standoff with what they came for.

This trope can be constructed in a number of geometries: one against one, three or more to a side, [[MeleeATrois free-for-all]], or army against army. Frequently ends in a BlastOut when someone gets twitchy, [[WhatAnIdiot figures the odds differently]] than everyone else and decides they have an advantage, or is just crazy enough to [[NotAfraidToDie not care if they die too]]. [[KingmakerScenario Entry of]] [[TheCavalry a third party]] can also end things, since those already there are fixated on each other.

When this kind of standoff happens in HeroicBloodshed movies or more recent Hollywood fare, it usually takes the form of [[GunpointBanter two characters with their guns in each other's faces at point blank range]]. Another versionsof the MexicanStandoff have three or more participants with guns leveled in ring-around-the-rosy fashion, so the person you've got covered is not the one covering you. Or blades could be substituted instead of guns, meaning the person you've got covered just might survive long enough to retaliate.

Sometimes the situation is resolved in a civilized fashion with all involved parties realizing the suicidal position they are in and agreeing to put down their weapons, usually on a count of three to make sure no one ambushes the other. Occasionally, a downplayed FriendOrFoe situation results in a brief version of this

It's OlderThanRadio and has been around long enough to be ''parodied'' in the play "The Critic", first staged in 1779. The term itself, however, originated in the 19th century - possibly in Australia, of all places - regarding perceived political indecision in Mexico.

Unsurprisingly, Mexicans don't refer to this as a Mexican standoff. In fact, no quippy Spanish equivalent seems to exist at all.

When entire nations do this, it's upscaled to MutuallyAssuredDestruction. Also a case of the famous "PrisonersDilemma": If everyone puts the gun down, everyone lives. If everyone shoots, everyone will die. But nobody wants to be the first to put the gun down and become vulnerable. Compare the ShowdownAtHighNoon from [[TheWestern Westerns]] which sometimes take the form of this trope.

Expect [[ExtremeCloseUp Extreme Close Ups]].

----!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Advertising]]* Parodied in a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0VOM7e5Hug banned Xbox 360 commercial]], where an entire subway station spontaneously erupts into a MexicanStandoff, then a giant shootout... Only nobody is carrying any guns. They're just pointing {{Finger Gun}}s at each other and yelling "Bang!"** See also the "Bang!" FlashMob example under RealLife below.* This is uncannily similar to a scene in the British sitcom ''Series/{{Spaced}}''. Simon Pegg has said in interviews that if it was ever to get another series, it would end on a MexicanStandoff {{Cliffhanger}} ala ''Series/BlakesSeven''.* A commercial for AT&T U-Verse uses this trope, but the people in question are a typical nuclear family and the "guns" are remotes.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]* The final episodes of ''Manga/DeathNote'' should count. Though Matsuda was the only one using his gun; We have Light, Mikami with his death note, the Japanese police, Near, and the SPK at each other's throats. Someone was about to kill someone, and until the end, it was Matsuda that was quick on the draw.* In an episode of ''Anime/DominionTankPolice'', there is a standoff in a sewer. Buaku and his police hostage are fleeing with a stolen portrait when they are accosted by power-armor wearing mercenaries called Red Commandoes. Then the Puma Sisters show up and point guns at the Commandoes. ''Then'' the tank police show up and point guns at both. Guns are pointed at ''everyone''. No one moves, no one talks, because they all know [[BlastOut what will happen]]. Then someone sneezes...* Vash and Knives, in their climactic showdown in the finale of the ''Anime/{{Trigun}}'' anime, have a very protracted (and very dramatic) one-on-one standoff, where every attempt to break the stalemate by one character is instantly copied by the other. [[spoiler:Vash breaks it when Wolfwood's voice sounds in his head -- at which point he realizes he's standing on the Punisher, giving him a move Knives can't copy.]]** Also happens in the manga with a multi-person standoff, consisting of Wolfwood, Zazie, Hoppered, Midvalley, and Legato all holding multiple guns to each other. Vash is kind of involved, too, since Legato's using his power to keep Vash from exploding. It was kinda awesome to watch. [[spoiler:Then Meryl popped up from beneath Vash to resolve it.]]* ''Anime/CodeGeass'''s first season ends with a MexicanStandoff that's [[spoiler:resolved after the FadeToBlack]]. One of the big mysteries going onto the OddlyNamedSequel is what exactly happened, since [[spoiler:all parties involved are shown to be alive and well one year later (not to mention the protagonist's little sister has been replaced by a little brother).]] There's another standoff much earlier, but that one is possibly disqualified by the fact that one side consists of two men with pistols while the other is a HumongousMecha with a supersized gun bigger than both men combined...** Subverted earlier in the season, when C.C. pulls a gun on Lelouch, threatening to shoot him in the leg, in order to stop him from leaving. [[StopOrIShootMyself Lelouch responds by drawing a gun of his own]], [[spoiler:but since C.C. is immortal and needs him alive to fulfill their contract, he points his gun not at C.C. but at his own head, threatening to kill himself if he isn't allowed to leave.]]* [[spoiler:Kuze]]'s plan in the end of the second season of ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' is to enforce a permanent MexicanStandoff by [[spoiler:building [[NukeEm nuclear bombs]] and threatening to use them]] if the Japanese try to occupy the newly created refugee state. [[spoiler:To prevent this, the government called in a favor from the Americans to level the entire overcrowded refugee camp with a nuclear strike, while they were still sure the plutonium was kept somewhere inside the camp.]]* Spike and Vicious engage in a MexicanStandoff in the fifth episode of ''Anime/CowboyBebop''. Spike's got a gun, and Vicious holds a [[KatanasAreJustBetter katana]] to the space cowboy's chest. They both attack each other, and Spike nearly dies, revealing flashbacks about both men's pasts. One seems to develop earlier in the same episode where Spike encounters an armed mook holding Faye as a hostage/human shield. Spike casually shoots him in the head. ** Repeated in the final episode. [[spoiler:Interestingly, the standoff is a result of each man disarming the other. Spike has Vicious's sword, Vicious has Spike's gun. In a ShoutOut to ''Film/ABetterTomorrow II'', they give them ''back'' and ''then'' both die.]]* In the third episode of ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'', Guts and Griffith have their first fight, which ends with Guts and Griffith presumably in a standoff, neither able to move without putting themselves at a disadvantage. However, [[spoiler:Griffith manages to pull an ingenious move and win the day, which is very badass]].* Happens at least twice -- so far -- in ''Manga/BlackLagoon''. Once during Revy's epic battle with Roberta, and then again (with [[MeleeATrois three participants]]) in ''Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise''.** There's also the short standoff between Revy and Dutch during the Nazi arc following Revy getting the [[AxCrazy Whitman Fever]] and trying to gun down the noncombatant contractors on board the ship along with her Nazi quarry.* ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}!'' has a fun standoff as three separate groups simultaneously try and hold up a dinner car on a train. Two groups have guns and the third has a knife. The guy with the knife quickly apologizes, closes the door, and walks away.* ''Anime/FutakoiAlternative'' has a hilariously awesome three-way MexicanStandoff.* A Mexican standoff involving paint guns occurs during chapter 82 of ''Manga/AiKora''.* Done in ''Manga/MysteriousGirlfriendX'', but instead of guns, [[http://www.mangafox.com/manga/mysterious_girlfriend_x/v06/c037/25.html we get scissors and legs]].* In ''Manga/MaidenRose'', Klaus and Berkut have a brief standoff when Berkut's sword is at Klaus' neck while Klaus' gun is pointed at Berkut's head. Unfortunately for Klaus, Berkut notices immediately that the gun is jammed. Azusa begins shooting from behind him before Berkut can do anything about it, though.* In the manga version of ''Manga/BlackButler'', during the Noah's Ark Circus Arc, Ciel [[spoiler:points a gun at [[AristocratsAreEvil Baron]] [[BandagedFace Kelvin]], so [[UndyingLoyalty Joker]] points his SwordCane at Ciel's throat, so [[BattleButler Sebastian]] holds his dagger against Joker's neck.]]* ''Manga/ZettaiKarenChildren'' features a very prolonged metaphysical standoff between BigBad Kyosuke and BadassNormal Minamoto; they both possess the means to kill each other (Kyosuke has RealityWarper psychic powers, Minamoto has a gun specifically engineered to kill high-level Espers like him), but neither one will actually pull the trigger because [[spoiler:if they do, LivingMacguffin Kaoru is all but certain to side with the martyr and bring about the future the killer doesn't want.]]* ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'' episode "Brittle Bullet". Haruko and Commander Amarao end up in one when she reveals herself as the woman cutting his hair. They each have a gun pointed at the other's head.* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'' ends with a Mexican Standoff. [[spoiler:At first, it's only between [[BigBad Durandal]] and [[TheHero Kira]]; then [[TheDragon Rey]] appears and takes aim at Kira from behind, only to [[VillainousBreakdown lower his weapon]] at Kira's KirkSummation. Then at the end, [[TheCaptain Gladys]] appears and takes aim at Kira at the same time as Rey re-aims at someone. Finally, a shot rings out, Durandal collapses... and Kira looks behind himself with surprise as Rey falls to his knees in tears. Gladys immediately runs up to Durandal, who asks her whether she was the one who took the shot. She wasn't; it was Rey.]]* In ''Manga/RaveMaster'', Elie and a villain get into one. Elie pulls the trigger while the guy is talking. [[MadeOfIron He survives.]]* Happens a few times in ''Manga/OnePiece'', first in the prologue when Luffy is captured by bandit leader Higuma Red Haired Shanks steps forward and a random mook points a gun at his head, Shanks showing no signs of fear asks him if he's prepared to pull the trigger. The mook hesitates long enough for Lucky Roo (Shanks's Crewmate)to shoot him from behind.** When Luffy recruits MasterSwordsmen Zoro, spoiled brat Helmeppo points a gun at SideKick Coby while his father Morgan attacks Luffy from behind Luffy knocks out Helmeppo and Zoro slashes Morgan before he can hurt Luffy. ** A standoff (of sorts) happens in the Baratie arc when ForcedIntoEvil Gin points a shotgun at ChefOfIron Zeff in attempt to make Hero cook Sanji leave the ship (as Gin doesn't want him to get hurt), but Sanji who is indebted to Zeff tells Gin to point the gun at him instead, Gin doesn't doesn't comply so Sanji lets other henchman Pearl give him a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown forcing Gin to pull a Judas and smash Pearl so he can fight Sanji himself.** A more traditional one happens after the midnight battle of Whiskey Peak, when AdventurerArchaeologist Nico Robin appears suddenly on board the ship everybody panics and Usopp points a slingshot at her head while Sanji points a gun at her, but Robin disliking their hostility disables both of them with her very "handy" devil fruit powers.** Robin appears in another standoff against seasoned badass Iceburg who points a gun at her and she proceeds to point eight guns at him using her powers. ** Sanji takes the lead in another standoff on Zou when Capone "Gang" Bege captain of the Firetank pirates (TheMafia) has captured Sanji and his crew and if he doesn't he comply they will sink Sanji's crush GoldDigger Nami into the floor. Sanji acts like he's going along with it but then throws Nami and the crew to safety and points a rifle at plot-important MadScientist Caesar Clown's head, threatening to blow his brains out if the gangsters go after his crew. * The premiere of ''Anime/PsychoPass'' season 2 sees a big one of these: after Akane has cornered the latent criminal Kitazawa on a rooftop, he has a shaky finger on the detonator for his suicide vest. Akane refuses to raise her Dominator at him since she doesn't want to kill him, but Enforcer Hasuike is on a neighboring rooftop and has ''his'' weapon pointed at Kitazawa. But then Ginoza points his Dominator at Hasuike, ''[[UpToEleven and then]]'' Inspector Aoyanagi points ''her'' Dominator at Ginoza. The situation is resolved when Kitazawa's Crime Coefficient drops into the nonlethal zone and Akane brings him in alive.** In the end of episode 6, Akane and [[BigBad Kamui]] get in one of these. In a twist, neither of them can fire; Akane's Dominator doesn't register Kamui's existence, while Kamui's Dominator is locked since Akane's Crime Coefficient is too low for enforcement action.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Card Games]]* In the card game ''The Good, The Bad, and The TabletopGame/{{Munchkin}}'', there is a card called MexicanStandoff which does indeed balance the sides in any given battle.* Short ones often occur in ''MagicTheGathering'' when either player making a move would give the other an opportunity to kill them. It generally lasts until one player draws the right card.** The card [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=29936 Standstill]] explicitly invokes this trope. Drawing three cards (basically for free) is an ''enormous'' advantage, and no player would want to allow their opponents such advantage. What this card does is that if a player casts a spell, all of his or her opponents draw three cards. The effect is all the more devastating, and the trope most invoked, the more players there are in the game. It often literally ends up in a standoff, with all players waiting to see who will cast the first spell.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comicbooks]]* In one issue of ''Marvel Team-Up'', ComicBook/ThePunisher and ComicBook/{{Blade}} have a gun and katana to each other's heads, respectively. Blade suggests they both stand down, and lowers his weapon. Punisher doesn't move. Blade: "..." He then turns away, and Punisher shoots him in the back.* Happens to the Hulk's supporting cast in an issue of ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk''. For some reason, writer Creator/PeterDavid thinks this is the perfect opportunity to [[AuthorTract deliver a topically belated, satirical comment]]: "Is it just me, or is this how we got involved in Vietnam?"* Gloriously averted in an issue of ComicBook/{{Fray}} when Fray and a mook are pointing guns into each other's faces:---> '''Mook:''' Well, it appears we have a standoff.---> ''Fray shoots him in the face''---> '''Fray:''' ''I'' don't have a standoff.* The Hearts Of Yukon by Creator/DonRosa ([[http://disneycomics.free.fr/Ducks/Rosa/show.php?num=3&loc=D95044&s=date page 3, picture 6]]). If that's not one, I don't know what is.* A three-way version in Comicbook/{{Hitman}} with Tommy Monaghan, a random {{Mook}}, and Franchise/{{Batman}}. Tommy has two guns, Batman [[DoesNotLikeGuns doesn't have any]], and he had his arms tied behind his back as well. Tommy talks the mook into pointing his gun at Batman, then leaves since nobody is pointing a gun at him. Batman later disarms the mook, because he's Batman.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Fiction]]* Incorrectly named in ''Fanfic/MyImmortal''. Ebony yells out in one of the last chapters: "they're having a Latin standoff!" Considering this ''is'' ''Fanfic/MyImmortal'', it's likely a parody, though.* In ''Fanfic/UndocumentedFeatures'', a three-way standoff is described as a "Carggian standoff." Another character replies, "Well, we moved from Mexico when you showed up."* There's a crossover fanfiction wherein [[Series/DoctorWho the Eighth Doctor]], Film/{{Blade}}, [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]], [[Series/TheXFiles Mulder, and Scully]] find themselves in one of these. When a swarm of vampires suddenly show up, the Doctor -- the only one involved without a weapon -- remarks that things are starting to get a bit ludicrous...* In this PowerRangers [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1910801/1/Constants fanfiction]], it's referenced by name.* In the Halo fanfiction Fanfic/TheLife, Frank, Pavel, and two [[RedShirt redshirts]] get into a short one with a Spartan III team. The misunderstanding is quickly fixed, though. Through talking, not shooting.* This trope pops up regularly in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'' fanfic ''Fanfic/OldWest''.** In the 1st chapter, [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass Sheriff Rango]] jumps in a barrel while escaping Tomson and his two mercenaries. As Tomson is about to yank Rango out, the sheriff points his gun at the rat's face while the other two mercs point theirs at the chameleon. The stalemate is broken by [[TheCavalry the townsfolk coming to Rango's rescue]].** In the 3rd chapter, [[RecruitingTheCriminal Rattlesnake Jake]] attacks Grace Glossy when she tries to flee upon spotting him and pins her to the ground with his coils. As she struggles and manages to get a hold of his [[ArmCannon tail gun]], he places his coils around her throat in an attempt to choke her. Fortunately, Rango turns deadly serious, points his gun at Jake's head and demands him to release Grace. A long moment of glaring contest follows until Jake admits that his position is precarious and backs off.** In the 16th chapter, Delilah Rangler "the Scarlet Kiss" comes to Grace's property in order to report Jake her progress on the assignment he has given her. Beans threatens her with a gun, only for the bobcat to whip out her revolver and point it back at Beans until Jake arrives.** In the 28th chapter, Irvin Worst places his ax against [[BigBad Dufayel's]] throat, but Dufayel is unconcerned because he has placed his revolver against the lizard's gut. Before the stalemate can get messy, the fox starts talking business, prompting Worst to back off.* In ''FanFic/QueenOfAllOni'', a brief one occurs during the initial fight for the second mask — Tohru captures [[VillainProtagonist Jade]], so Right (one of her CoDragons) retaliates by holding a sword at his neck, and Uncle in turn aims his wand at Right. It's quickly broken up when Ratso accidentally gains the mask, which provides enough of a distraction to allow Jade to escape.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]* The two-person point-blank variant of this is used in Creator/JohnWoo's ''Film/ABetterTomorrow II'', ''Film/TheKiller'', ''Film/BrokenArrow1996'', and ''Film/HardBoiled''. As a result, it's sometimes called the "John Woo Standoff."** John Woo is fond of these kinds of standoffs. There's the standoffs between Chow Yun-Fat and Danny Lee from ''Film/TheKiller'', between Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai in ''Film/HardBoiled'', and between most of the main cast in ''Film/RedCliff Part II'' - albeit with swords, of course, since that was set in Three Kingdoms period China. There's also the moment in ''Film/FaceOff'' where Sean Archer and Castor Troy end up in a standoff at a church, with Archer's FBI agents and family on one side, and Castor's family and crew on the other, which is made very dramatic by the fact that Archer and Castor are wearing each other's face and both sides are trying to convince the other which is which. When the stalemate is finally broken, the shootout that commences is the most memorable of the entire movie.*** Earlier, we have the [[GunpointBanter Gunpoint Bantering]] scene between Archer and Castor (with their original faces) in the airport hangar with each training a pistol on the other's head.*** In-between, they both [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic face mirrors and point their guns at their reflections, knowing the other is behind]]. Yes, John Woo loves this trope.** Subverted on ''Film/BrokenArrow1996'', where a suspect snatches the gun from a park ranger's holster and aims it at her, only to realize she's drawn a hunting knife and set it against his throat. He points out the disparity in their weapons' effectiveness, and she agrees... because she doesn't keep her sidearm loaded. [[spoiler:She's lying, and admits it after he forfeits the pistol.]]* Another Hong Kong film, RingoLam's ''City on Fire'', features a Mexican standoff near the end of the film, similar to the one later seen in ''Film/ReservoirDogs'' (see below).* One of the most famous scenes from ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'' involves the titular characters in one of these, and may well be the TropeCodifier. [[spoiler:Despite that, it is actually a subversion. Blondie knew that Tuco's gun was unloaded, so he knew to shoot Angel Eyes and deal with Tuco later.]]* Hilariously played with in ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead'' when, in order to actually make the standoff 'fair', a character from one side hands a weapon to a character on the other side.* The final airstrip scene in ''Film/{{Takers}}''.* ''Film/CorkyRomano'', a comedy revolving around a veterinarian with a mafia family he never knew about being used to infiltrate the FBI. The climax of the film has a Mexican Standoff of sorts that is really a half dozen men walking up to each other in a line, each doing a ClickHello.* Creator/QuentinTarantino loves this trope.** The movie ''Film/ReservoirDogs'' features a few instances of the trope. Toward the beginning, an argument between Mr. White and Mr. Pink gets heated, and they end up pulling guns on each other. They hold for a moment, then both lower their guns. At the climax, an undercover cop and three villains are caught in a tense three-way standoff. Bad guy one shoots the cop, bad guy two shoots bad guy one, bad guy three shoots bad guy two and bad guy two returns fire. In the end, Mr. White holds Mr. Orange at gunpoint, while the cops (off-screen) point guns at Mr. Pink.** In the climax of ''Film/PulpFiction'', Jules disarms Pumpkin at gunpoint, Honeybunny freaks and turns her gun on Jules, and a returning Vincent takes aim at Honeybunny while also threatening to shoot Pumpkin until Jules shuts him down.** ''Film/TrueRomance'' ends with a big standoff between the police, the mafia, and the bodyguards of a Hollywood producer. And Clarence & Alabama.** A two-man version shows up in ''Film/NaturalBornKillers'', which drops the trope name.** ''Film/KillBill'' features a standoff between a hitwoman and Beatrix, [[spoiler:who has recently learned she's pregnant and wants no part of it]].** ''Film/InglouriousBasterds'' features two separate stand-offs in a single scene. In the first, an SS agent and a British spy point pistols at each other's testicles beneath a bar table. Later, a German soldier and the rest of the Basterds have each other at a stalemate, during which time they argue about whether their position could be called a Mexican Standoff.* In one of ''Franchise/ThePinkPanther'' movies, a soldier is shooting at the baddies. A baddie sneaks behind the soldier and puts a knife to his throat, telling him not to move. Another soldier gets behind him and puts a gun to ''his'' throat, telling him the same thing, creating a sort of blade-based MexicanStandoff. As they are all there unmoving and unsure about what to do, [[ShootTheShaggyDog a grenade drops nearby and blows them all up]].* In ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'', there is a Mexican standoff between a group of German soldiers and a group of Americans. As both were taken by complete surprise, nobody dares to shoot first, but they insult and intimidate each other instead. A second score of Americans enters, and literally blows the status quo.* ''Franchise/TheMatrix'' franchise:** Near the end of [[Film/TheMatrix the first movie]] Neo and Agent Smith have their guns to each others' heads, only to find [[spoiler:that both their guns are empty.]]*** The scene even begins with a newspaper blowing across subway platform like a tumbleweed.** In a memorable moment in ''Film/TheMatrixRevolutions'', Morpheus, Seraph, and [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend Trinity]] confront the Merovingian at his nightclub to secure freedom for a limbo-ridden Neo. There were easily at least 20 people involved. When the Merovingian demands "the eyes of the Oracle" in return, Trinity decides she doesn't have time for this shit and points a gun at his head. Merovingian calls off the standoff with no bloodshed after he realizes that the trio aren't going to back down.* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'':** ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'': Used to interesting effect when the cursed Pirates have a sword to Elizabeth's throat, while Will Turner has [[StopOrIShootMyself a gun to his own head]] (If he kills himself there, the pirates can never lift the curse.)** ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest'': Norrington, Jack, and Will engage in a Mexican standoff -- but with swords. Norrington points to Will, Will to Jack... and Jack doesn't know who to point to, deciding to point, late, to Norrington.** ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanAtWorldsEnd'' has a particularly interesting one, involving five people (one of whom isn't even directly related to the argument and pulls out his guns because everyone else does), each with two guns pointing at two other people. During the course of a conversation, they constantly switch who they are pointing their guns at. The whole thing becomes moot when [[spoiler:Jack tries to shoot Barbossa, and the shot is a dud. This prompts everyone else to fire at each other, with the same result. Turns out that all the guns were waterlogged.]] There is also a monkey and a parrot involved. --> '''Pintel:''' We can still use 'em as clubs!** ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides'': Jack, Angelica, and Scrum over the mermaid's tear.* Near the conclusion of ''Film/LustInTheDust'', a 1985 film, nearly everyone is pointing guns at each other over a chest of gold. Marguerita (Lainie Kazan) is the lone character without a gun -- she exclaims, "This is ''not fair''!" The others give her a pistol out of fair play.* A particularly well-done and tense Mexican Standoff is done in the latter half of ''Film/TheRock'', as seen [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz25N72cQxs here]].* In the ''Film/{{Hitman}}'' movie, the main character is in an Mexican Standoff with three assassins out to kill him. Why the assassins are pointing guns at each other and not just at the guy they're supposed to kill [[FridgeLogic is a good question]], but it is [[RuleOfCool quickly overshadowed]] by the fact that they decide to "die with a little dignity" by ejecting the magazines from their [[GunsAkimbo guns]], dropping their guns, and each pulling out a [[DualWielding pair]] of [[KatanasAreJustBetter mini-katanas]], and after another brief standoff in which the 4 assassins cross their swords a la the 3 musketeers, they then have a swordfight.** As for why they're pointing guns at each other, I'd reckon it's because the guy who kills 47 is the only guy who gets paid.* ''Film/DeltaFarce'': "Here, we just call it a standoff."* ''Film/TheDeparted'': Costigan, Sullivan, Barrigan, Brown. An abandoned apartment building. [[spoiler:Three bodies. Sullivan walks away.]]* Done much more simplistically in the film ''Film/TheDeparted'' is based on, the Hong Kong thriller ''Film/InfernalAffairs''. Only three people, rather than the addition of another two a bit later on.* {{Lampshaded}} in the Creator/JackieChan movie ''Film/ShanghaiNoon''. The corrupt sheriff comes in during the ransom money trade-off and pulls out dual pistols, aimed at Jackie and Owen Wilson. This is on top of the heroes having the other villain at gunpoint with the princess and royal guards also in the fray. He quips, "How bout that... it's a Mexican standoff... only we ain't got no Mexicans."* The first ''Film/JamesBond'' film, ''Film/DrNo'', has Bond outwitting a would-be assassin by hiding behind the door while the assassin attempts to kill him in his room. Bond has the assassin drop his gun on a rug and sit down while he interrogates the man. Bond would occasionally take a drink during the conversation, which the assassin used to slide his gun closer to him by dragging the rug. Eventually, the assassin regained his gun and pointed it at Bond, saying that they are now at a standstill, to which Bond casually shrugs and simply shot the guy. It should be noted that the assassin had used all of his bullets earlier shooting the bed which he believed contained Bond. As Bond knew this fact, it was easier for him to react calmly to a gun pointed at him.* The film ''Film/TimeAndTide'' has two characters, a regular soldier and a special-ops mercenary, pull pistols on each other simultaneously. The soldier says "Now we are equal," and the mercenary [[spoiler:shoots him immediately, then spits on his body, saying "I only speak with my gun."]]* ''Film/InBruges'' has Ray and Harry getting into one of these in the middle of the bed-and-breakfast. Harry is too [[NobleDemon principled]] to get into a gunfight with the pregnant landlady right there in harm's way, and she refuses to leave, so they hilariously argue about how they can continue the fight elsewhere.* The film version of ''Film/{{Stardust}}'' has [[TheHero Tristan]] and [[MagnificentBastard Septimus]] getting into the knifey-equivalent to this.* In the film of ''Film/PrinceCaspian'', Caspian confronts Miraz and puts a sword to his throat. Then Miraz' wife points a crossbow at Caspian. Then Susan walks in and points her bow at Mrs. Miraz.* Done between a squad of Army rangers and Sector Seven agents in the 2007 ''{{Transformers}}'' movie. Broken up by Defense Secretary Keller, who suggests the agents do what the rangers say. "Losing's not really an option for these guys."* ''Film/BrandedToKill'' features a very odd subversion, almost a {{Deconstruction}}. The Number One Killer pulls a gun on the the VillainProtagonist, who responds in kind as dictated by the trope. Then the Number One Killer says "We'll have to split the bed." They stand next to each other for days, as the SociopathicHero goes crazier and crazier. The Number One Killer is unfazed.* Subverted in ''RikMayallPresentsTheBigOne''. Contains a five way Mexican Standoff. The guns are aimed this way and that, while three of the five people involved run off as soon as no-one is aiming at them. The two people left aiming at each other are on the same side.%%* Parodied many times in ''Film/TheMummyTrilogy''.* ''Film/{{Assassins}}'' (1995). Two hitmen are on either side of a bulletproof divider in a taxicab after an unsuccessful NotMyDriver ploy. Neither can get out of the taxi without being killed, so the younger (and crazier) hitman breaks the stalemate by threatening to shoot an innocent bystander unless he starts driving. Then follows a car chase to avoid pursuing police vehicles while at the same time each hitman is trying to kill the other.* In ''Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina'', the Chang Sing gang and the villainous Wing Kong gang have what Wang calls a "Chinese standoff" before their big fight near the beginning of the movie.* Parodied by ''Film/DateNight'': "Oh my God everyone is pointing guns at everyone!"* ''Film/{{DEBS}}''. Lucy and Amy end up pointing their guns at each other the first time they meet and have a debate about who's going to put their gun down first.* ''Film/TheTallBlondManWithOneBlackShoe'' is an unknowing pawn in a scheme between two interdepartmental government rivals who is set up to appear to be a whistle-blower agent. When factions from both sides converge on his apartment, they all draw guns -- as they face off, they agree that as professionals, they won't shoot each other... then a [[ExplosiveCigar trick cigar]] ([[ChekhovsGun given to the pawn by his friend]]) smoldering in an ashtray blows up, and all four men gun each other down.* Referenced (perhaps) in ''Film/TheCourtJester'' in a joke Hawkins tells the king:--> '''Hawkins'''': The Duchess dove at the Duke just when the Duke dove at the Doge. Now the Duke ducked, the Doge dodged, and the Duchess didn't. So the Duke got the Duchess, the Duchess got the Doge, and the Doge got the Duke!* Happens and even gets referenced by name in ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon''. During the scene where they believe the Decepticons are targeting Sentinel Prime, the Autobots protect him as they get him to NEST headquarters where the Pillars are located. When two of the Dreads show up with their guns, [[BadassGrandpa Iron]][[TheBigGuy hide]] and Sideswipe counter with their own. After Sideswipe Lampshades it, he and Ironhide offer to let the Dreads 'put down their guns and leave with their dignity still intact'. The Dreads do as they say, and so do the Autobots, then [[WhatAnIdiot the Dreads try to use their hidden weapons.]] Sides' and 'Hide proceed to kick the metal shit out of them ''without'' their guns.--> '''Ironhide:''' [[PostMortemOneLiner Class dismissed.]]* A huge one occurs in the BMovie ''The Immortals''. The leaders of two gangs direct about a dozen people each on who they should be covering, every one with GunsAkimbo. [[BlastOut It all hits the fan]] when an InnocentBystander drops some plates. Most of the good guys somehow make it out alive (if wounded), even though everyone involved in the shootout were standing only a few feet away from each other.* Late in ''Film/RepoMan'', there's one in a convenience store involving 1) Otto's friends who've come in to rob the store, 2) the brothers also trying to chase down the Malibu, and 3) the store's security guard. All three keep moving their guns back and forth at the other two.* In ''Film/{{Dragonheart}}'', with the knight Bowen standing in the dragon's mouth, sword pointed up. If the dragon bites down, the sword goes through his brain. If Bowen stabs the dragon, his jaw comes down.* Discussed in ''Film/NickOfTime'' by Ms. Jones when Gene pulls a gun on her, unaware that she has a gun pointed at his daughter.* ''Next Day Air'' ends with a MexicanStandoff that [[BlastOut goes bad]] and kills half the cast (and almost kills half the rest).* Happens in ''Film/EnemyOfTheState'' on a grand scale. Apparently played for laughs, too, since you know both parties are unsympathetic and are being [[OneDialogueTwoConversations suckered big time.]]* A brief subversion shows up early in ''Film/{{Predators}}''. When KnifeNut Stans realizes what sort of a DeathWorld they're on, he demands for someone to give him a gun, because his knife isn't going to cut it. After no one volunteers to give a gun to the friendly neighborhood SerialKiller, Stans catches Mombassa by surprise, holds a knife to Mombassa's neck, and demands a gun. Mombassa calmly points a gun at Stans' head, explains that he's NotAfraidToDie, and waits. It takes all of about two seconds for Stans to back down.* In ''Film/ShowdownInLittleTokyo'', the heroes and the Yakuza end up in a standoff when they're taken to see the boss. The culture-savvy cop notes that they should make an effort to respect them if they are to be let off with a warning, but when he realizes that it's the same man who [[YouKilledMyFather murdered his parents in Japan years before]] he immediately points his gun at the boss's head. The situation eventually defuses when he points out that too many people saw them come in, so they can't just make the two L.A. cops simply disappear.* Done on an organisation-wide basis in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier''. [[spoiler:Steve Rogers broadcasts that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been infiltrated by HYDRA, causing the loyalists and the infiltrators to point guns at each other, including Agent 13 and Brock Rumlow. Brock drops his pistol in apparent surrender, then uses a knife to slash 13's gun-arm. Everyone then starts shooting at each other.]]* ''Film/TheBlob1988'': During the climax, Brian pulls a military rifle on Dr. Meddows, getting into a stand-off between the two, the army, and the local police. Meddows tries to convince everyone to shoot Brian, and Brian reveals to everyone that Meddows is the mastermind behind what's happening. Meddows snaps and pulls a gun himself [[spoiler:only to get dragged into the sewers by the titular monster]].%% * ''Film/{{Divergent}}'' has one between [[spoiler: Tris, Four, Eric, and at least one other Dauntless in the second half of the film]] * In ''Film/{{Munich}}'', one occurs when Louis (the Israeli assassination team's source of intelligence) double-books their Athens safe house and a group of assorted revolutionaries stumbles in at the dead of night.* ''Film/{{Retroactive}}'': In one of the temporal loops, Karen takes Frank's accomplice hostage at the gas station, only for the Sheriff to walk in at that moment. This results in an armed standoff between herself, the Sheriff, and Frank, which ends with Frank killing the Sheriff.* ''Film/WelcomeToDongmakgol'': The one between the North and South Korean soldiers in the village lasts all afternoon, all night, and into the next day, and only ends when a North Korean soldier falls asleep on his feet and drops his grenade.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* ''Franchise/TheDarkTower''** In keeping with the series' Western roots, ''Literature/WizardAndGlass'' involves the main character's friend training a fatal slingshot round on a corrupt deputy harassing a mentally handicapped boy, who then has a gun put to his head from behind by another one of the corrupt deputies, who then gets a knife put up against his throat by one of the first boy's friends, who gets a gun put to ''his'' head by the leader of the lawmen... who suddenly finds the main character's knife against his back, in what may be the most over-the-top example of this trope played straight.** Played straight in an earlier book, as well, between Eddie and Roland in ''Literature/TheDrawingOfTheThree''. Notable in that Eddie actually refers to the standoff by name as a Mexican standoff.* The novel ''DanceOfTheVoodooHandbag'' by Creator/RobertRankin uses a Mexican Standoff in which an increasing number of characters arrive pointing guns at each other in an argument over the titular McGuffin. However, the main character realises noone's threatening him, so he steals the handbag and escapes in the confusion.* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'', there was a stand off between Harry, Hermione, Ron, Professor Lupin, and Sirius Black. It was then calmed, then when Snape entered the picture, the stand off began again.* This happens twice in ''[[Literature/HisDarkMaterials The Amber Spyglass]]'' between Lyra, Will, Tialys, and Salmakia.* Subverted in ''{{Popcorn}}'', one of Ben Elton's earlier books, when a very film-savvy criminal gets caught in a one-on-one standoff and remarks "I never got why people didn't just stop yakking and shoot the other guy" before shooting the woman he's facing in the chest.* In the novel ''Something Rotten'' of the Literature/ThursdayNext series by Jasper Fforde, Thursday find herself in one of these: for the better part of the book, Thurs has been trying to find a way to gently break it to her friend and colleague Spike that his [[LittleMissBadass cute, perky]] wife Cindy is [[SecretIdentity secretly]] a [[ProfessionalKiller contract killer]] with a contract out on Thursday. When she finally confronts Cindy in Spike's presence, Thurs draws her gun on Cindy (who she believes has a concealed weapon) only to have Spike -- who refuses to believe her -- draw his gun on her. The standoff ends when [[spoiler:a [[AnvilOnHead random grand piano]] falls out of a window above them, and the piano bench lands on Cindy; she collapses, revealing said concealed weapon. The author has said that he had no idea how to end that scene, so he [[TakeAThirdOption Took A Third Option]]. Astonishingly, by the end of the book, he actually [[JustifiedTrope Justifies]] it]].** Not ''that'' astonishing. Thursday Next lives in a [[{{Troperiffic}} very special world]].* In Creator/DanAbnett's Literature/GauntsGhosts novel ''Ghostmaker'', after Corbec tackled a figure who turned out to be a Volpone Blueblood, the Bluebloods surrounded him with guns; he let the major up, and the major drew a gun on him; Gaunt appeared, pointing a gun at the major and declaring that if he shot Corbec, he would be dead before his men could shoot; more Ghosts appeared, with their guns drawn... It was a good thing that the Inquisitor Lilith showed up, all in all.* The ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' refers to this as a Rodian Standoff. It doesn't show up as often as you might think.** It partially happened in the [[TheDogShotFirst movie.]]** One happened in Boba Fett's story in ''Tales of the Bounty Hunters'', with a twist. Neither Solo nor Fett really wants to fight anymore. But neither of them trusts the other enough to be the first to put his gun down. The story ends with both still trying to figure out how to end the fight without killing each other. [[spoiler:Since both of them show up in stories that take place later on in the EU, they must have come up with something.]]* Played with in Trevanian's ''The Eiger Sanction''. [[spoiler:The hero is only holding up his hand in a gun shape while he's under a sleeping bag.]]* In Creator/TerryPratchett's ''Discworld/GuardsGuards'', when neither dragon can get an advantage, the narration notes that this is "the well-known [[FantasyCounterpartCulture Klatchian]] standoff".** Later, in ''Discworld/TheFifthElephant'', Vimes and Inigo Skimmer are in each other's personal space, with blades drawn...-->'''Vimes''': "And now it appears that we have reached what Sergeant Colon persists in referring to as an ''[[{{Malaproper}} imp arse]]''."* In Creator/JimButcher's ''Literature/DresdenFiles'' novel ''Turn Coat'', Harry thrice goes into his apartment to find [[spoiler:Morgan, Molly, and Mouse -- with Luccio, twice]] in some form of a Mexican Standoff. He defuses the situations.** Harry and Murphy against Binder and the Gray Men. Harry and Murphy are protected from Binder's men by the empowered circle, but Binder could break it. Murphy points a gun at him to prevent that. Defused by Molly completing a ''second'' circle around Binder, banishing the Gray Men.* Happens often enough in ''Literature/BloodMeridian'', one memorable one being after Glanton's horse bites the ear off an Apache chief's during a meeting, and moments later everyone on both sides is fixed in a web of gunsights.* Done in the ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' novel ''The Bellmaker'', where Mariel is threatening to kill the commander of a troop of rats. One rat has an arrow pointed at her head. This goes on for at least a few hours before the good guys are finally rescued.* One of the major storylines in the ''Literature/{{Liavek}}'' anthologies concluded with one of these in the office of the Levar's Regent. The Regent has a gun, his top enforcer Dashif has two, and a crossbow-wielding assassin has just showed up too. Also present are Dashif's daughter and one of the Regent's political rivals. [[spoiler:The Regent makes the mistake of aiming at Dashif's daughter, so he dies along with Dashif and the assassin.]]* In Richard Ellis Preston Jr.'s Literature/ChroniclesOfThePneumaticZeppelin novel ''Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War'', Goethe declares that Sabrina is Sabrina Fawkes, and must come with him, in the middle of the Imperial stronghold. Both the Imperials and the Crankshafts face off against Goethe's guards. Romulus diffuses it with a challenge to a DuelToTheDeath.* Referenced in ''Literature/ThePrisonerOfZenda''. Rudolf even namedrops "The Critic".--> '''Rudolf:''' "In fact, Fritz," said I, "I am reminded of a situation in one of our English plays—The Critic—have you heard of it? Or, if you like, of two men, each covering the other with a revolver. For I can't expose Michael without exposing myself..."--> '''Sapt:''' "And the King."--> '''Rudolf:'''"And, hang me if Michael won't expose himself, if he tries to expose me!"* Battles between magic users in the ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'' require at least one of the participants to gain access to the other's mind before any casting can be done, because otherwise this trope will result. Magic takes a split-second to cast, and once cast cannot be stopped, thus the first caster is guaranteed that his opponent is dead. However, it takes longer than a split-second for the magic to take effect, so once your magic begins, your opponent can retaliate with equally lethal magic, thus the second caster is ''also'' guaranteed that his opponent is dead. If a caster has access to his opponent's mind, however, they can see the magic coming before it is cast, thus counter-magic can be prepared prior to the casting.* ''Literature/FindersKeepers'': Happens between Pete and Morris in the climax, with Morris holding Pete's sister Tina at gunpoint while Pete threatens to ignite the notebooks Morris wants, which he has drenched in lighter fluid. Morris even mentions the trope by name.* A situation like this is [[InvokedTrope deliberately engineered]] in ''Literature/FoundationsEdge'' so as to allow a KingmakerScenario -- Gaia doesn't trust their own judgement about the future of the galaxy, so they arrange a situation where [[spoiler:a representative of the First Foundation in a gravitic warship and a representative of the Second foundation on a ship carrying a (previously clandestine) Gaian both arrive in their home-system. The warship could easily blow the other ship to pieces, and its psychic static device is just strong enough that unless Gaia or the Second Foundationer (backed by a Second Foundation mental gestalt) specifically focus on them the crew is protected from permanent alteration or being made to do something while still being hindered from acting to destroy the other ship. Gaia and the Second Foundation can't put their full focus on breaking through the psychic static, as then the other one would be able to overwhelm them, and they can't focus on the other one as then the First Foundation warship would be free to act.]] The chosen Kingmaker is Golan Trevize, on the scene in [[spoiler:his own ship, equipped with a computer he can mentally link to. By linking to the computer and making a choice he would add ''just'' enough psychic power to any one of the three to break the stalemate -- Gaia and the Second Foundation would be able to keep the First Foundation at bay while dealing with the other one, and the First Foundation's psychic static would be strengthened enough to allow them to blast the other ship.]][[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]* Creator/JossWhedon seems to like subverting this a lot:** In the ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' episode, "Two to Go", Xander, Andrew, and Jonathan are caught in a two-sided Mexican stand-off when Andrew holds Xander at swordpoint, and Jonathan, trying to keep Andrew from killing Xander, puts his own sword to Andrew's neck.** In the Franchise/{{Buffyverse}} comic book miniseries ''{{ComicBook/Fray}}'', Melaka and one of the two random goons after the same prize end up pointing laser pistols at each other, causing the goon to state "It appears we have a standoff." Melaka's response? "What standoff?" BLAM.** Also subverted rather beautifully in the original opening two-parter of ''Series/{{Firefly}}'', where River is taken hostage by the Alliance mole, who has a gun to her head, and Mal is walking back up from their latest illegal dealing. Considering he, Jayne, and Zoe just came back from an outing during which they were all heavily armed, and considering the fed had allegedly called for backup, this could easily have led to a Mexican standoff, especially given that Jayne is prone to betrayal at the drop of a hat if given enough money. Instead, Mal and the others almost completely ignore the man's threats, with Mal simply shooting him in the face as soon as he catches sight of him without even slowing his pace or being fazed one bit.** ''Serenity'', the [[TheMovie Big Damn Movie]] of ''Series/{{Firefly}}''. This happens twice between Captain Mal and River Tam: the first time in the bar after River has demonstrated her martial arts abilities, and the second after River escapes custody and goes to the bridge.* ''Series/{{Life On Mars|2006}}'': Gene's superior officer and mentor, recently [[BrokenPedestal found out to be corrupt]], is cornered by Sam and Gene in a corridor. All three produce guns. The mentor begins to challenge the two to break the stalemate, remarking that none of them are getting out of this unharmed -- but doesn't get to finish, because Gene bluntly shoots him in the leg while he's still talking. Gene, of course, was a bit pissed about the whole 'corrupt' thing.* One ''Series/TheXFiles'' season finale contained enough plot twists to briefly lead to a three-way stand-off between ''the good guys'' -- it's resolved without bloodshed and with a slight degree of embarrassment on all parts.* In the ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' episode "Landslide", HRG and Mohinder get into one. However, HRG isn't pointing his gun at Mohinder, [[spoiler:he's pointing it at Molly Walker, a little girl whose power happens to be The Company's new "Walker" tracking system, and the biggest threat to the heroes' security.]]* One episode of the SitCom ''Series/{{Taxi}}'', Bobby has a fare talk himself into the front seat, then pull out a gun in an attempted robbery once they've reached his destination (the middle of nowhere-in-particular), foiled once Bobby pulls his own, kept for just such an emergency. This trope is then played straight for something like ''eight hours'', subverted when the thief complained that his arm's getting tired and convinced Bobby to swap his much larger pistol for the latter's much lighter one... revealing afterwards that ''his'' gun was never even loaded, and resuming his crime from square one.* ''Series/{{Wiseguy}}''. When Vinnie Terranova gets framed due to a GovernmentConspiracy, his [[TheHandler OCB handler]] Frank [=McPike=] tries to get an eccentric billionaire (who's cut himself off from society for decades) to help. The meeting takes place in a ski-lift, with the billionaire holding a cocked LAAWS rocket. At one stage he points out that it's not a good idea to threaten a man armed with a bazooka, whereupon [=McPike=] whips out his snubnose .38 and says: "Big hole, little hole; either way we're just as dead." The billionaire is so impressed with [=McPike=]'s chutzpah he does eventually come forward to clear Vinnie.* Tim and Duane have a paintball standoff in the fourth episode of ''Series/{{Spaced}}''.* An episode of ''Series/BurnNotice'' has a group of criminals in a standoff situation after being manipulated by [[TheChessmaster Michael]] into believing they were being betrayed by each other. None of them actually wanted to start shooting, but [[BoisterousBruiser Sam]] sneaks up behind the building and fires his gun into the ground. The noise makes the criminals panic and kill each other, in what is either crossing the MoralEventHorizon or a CrowningMomentOfAwesome for Sam, depending on the viewer.** Considering that Sam is a former Spec-Ops leader, if one is going with MoralEventHorizon, it's probably the least of his sins.** These guys had kidnapped a child and were planning on killing him and his father when their scheme was done. And they'd been keeping him in the woodshed in the back of their luxury home on a Miami island.** In another episode, Michael turns a situation where he should be at a massive disadvantage (he's alone and trying to face down an ArmsDealer, the dealer's 6 armed mooks, and the master thief that stole a chemical weapon and was planning to sell it to the dealer) into a MexicanStandoff with some quick thinking: rather than try to intimidate them by pointing his gun at his opponents, Michael points it at ''the chemical weapon'' they came to buy. Sure, if they shoot him, he's dead, but if Michael can fire before dying, the nerve gas inside will kill ''everyone'' there.* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': "Bad Day at Black Rock" has two of these over a cursed rabbit's foot -- first between just Dean and Bela, then with Sam, Dean, and Bela, [[spoiler:who shoots Sam [[OnlyAFleshWound in the shoulder]]]].* An episode of ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' involves a sentient virus who can take over the body of any intelligent being. Because nobody knows who the virus is inhabiting, at one point at least five or six people have guns pointed at each other, often weaving between targets.* In ''Series/GetSmart'', Max and 99, attempting to protect a KAOS defector, comes up upon one of these in a hotel. The KAOS agent at the desk threatens them with a pistol, but he's covered by a maid, who's covered by the janitor, who's covered by another guest, who's covered by the hotel chef. As soon as Max, 99, and the defector leave the room, everyone fires and Max laments "All it takes is ''one'' wiseguy...".* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''** The episode "Tacking Into the Wind" ends with Gul Rusot, a member of the Cardassian Rebellion, pointing a phaser at Kira, who is covered by Garak, while Damar holds them ALL at gun (phaser?)-point and tries to decide what to do.*** Rusot pulled a Cardassian disruptor on Kira (holstered Starfleet type 2 phaser). Garak essentially gives Rusot a ClickHello with his Starfleet type 2 phaser. Damar then pulls his Cardassian disruptor on both of them and tells them to chill the eff out.** The episode "Who Mourns for Morn" has one with four armed parties, and an unarmed Quark, in a Mexican Standoff over a cargo container of money.%%* ''TheOffice'''s epic Mexican Standoff? [[http://dft.ba/-3H0]]* ''Series/DoctorWho'':** A Time Lords one at the end of [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E17E18TheEndOfTime "The End of Time"]], with the Doctor versus [[spoiler:the Master and Rassilon.]]** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS17E1DestinyOfTheDaleks "Destiny of the Daleks"]], one occurs when a squad of Daleks corner the Doctor, but he threatens to blow up Davros if they don't "[[UnusualEuphemism spack off!]]" When they do stand down momentarily, the Doctor says "I believe this is what's called a Mexican Standoff".** In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS12E5RevengeOfTheCybermen "Revenge of the Cybermen"]], Dr. Kellerman and the commander face off. [[spoiler:The other surviving crewman jumps Kellerman.]]** Again in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E3VictoryOfTheDaleks "Victory of the Daleks"]], when the Daleks gloat at the Doctor at gunpoint while he holds ''them'' hostage by threatening to blow up the TARDIS and take the Dalek ship with it. Eventually, however, the Daleks figure out that the self-destruct device the Doctor's been threatening them with is actually a jammy dodger, and everything goes to hell in a handbasket.* A ''CougarTown'' episode ends with the whole cast involved in a Mexican standoff with finger guns, leading to a pretend bloodbath (one of the examples above even gets namechecked: Travis's dying words are "I love ''{{Spaced}}''!")* In ''Series/{{Community}}'' episode [[Recap/CommunityS1E23ModernWarfare Modern Warfare]], the ambush in the men's room turns into this.* In an early episode of ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'', Owen's got the villain at gunpoint, when the villains' accomplice reveals himself and points a gun at Owen. Gwen is shocked, and lifts her gun toward the accomplice.* In a [[http://www.metacafe.com/watch/hl-60147834/saturday_night_live_the_stand_off_season_38/ filmed sketch]] on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' three gangsters have one of these which lasts for days; they sleep together, shower, go to a Thanksgiving dinner, go ice skating, even attend one of them's son's soccer game. Finally, one of them says that the last few days have been the best of his life; the other two immediately shoot him, then go back to a standoff with each other.* A humorous version on ''{{Series/Blossom}}''. The titular character ditches school, her father ditches work, and they spend the day together. Towards the end, the pair runs into her Spanish teacher, out on a date with her English teacher. It seems Blossom' s goose is cooked, until she recalls that both teachers are married--to other people. Her father name-drops this trope, leading to the following exchange:--> '''Teacher'''(sternly) "We had a test today, Blossom. ({{Beat}}, then cheerfully) You got a hundred!"* The ''Series/StudioC'' sketch [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEPyVAhnJYQ "Get Up and Walk Out of Here"]] has a standoff starting with two participants, but which has people joining one by one to tip the balance. At the end, there are 10 people in a ring, each pointing a gun at the next person. (The tenth was actually the wife of the ninth, upset that her husband was 40 minutes late for dinner.)* This happens a few times on ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', usually when [[TheSquad Team Gibbs]] charges in to bust the bad guys--only to find out that they're actually feds from another agency. This is then followed by a round of JurisdictionFriction.* ''Series/BlakesSeven''. In "Aftermath", Avon gets a gun pushed into his back by [[BigBad Servalan]]. Avon indicates the ActionGirl who's just come up behind Servalan with a bow and arrow. Then a bunch of sword-wielding locals arrive and Servalan admits the gun is empty anyway. Everyone legs it.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]* Music/{{Elbow}}'s song "Mexican Standoff" uses this trope as a metaphor for two guys who are competing for the attention of a woman, but apparently neither is brave enough to physically fight the other one.* Depicted on the cover of {{Music/Lifehouse}}'s album ''Almería''.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]* The game [[http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/19237/cash-n-guns Ca$h 'n' Gun$]] is designed to simulate this situation. The players are crooks arguing over dividing up the loot from a robbery. Money is piled up in the centre over the course each round, and players have a number of 'Bang' or 'Click' cards. On a count of three, each player points a (foam) gun at another player. On another count of three, players can back off if they don't like the odds pointing at them. Then you reveal if anyone gets shot or if it's just a bluff, and then anyone still standing gets a share of the cash. Backing down costs you points, but [[CaptainObvious getting shot enough makes you dead]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]* OlderThanRadio: Quoth Scott Higgins' article in Cinema Journal 47, No. 2: "Brewster and Jacobs invoke Sheridan’s parody of this warhorse of situations in his 1779 play ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic''. Sheridan mocks melodramatic convention by having a fictional playwright concoct a scene in which two women hold the man they both love at dagger’s point; the man, in turn, draws two daggers and holds them on the women, at which point their two uncles enter and draw their swords against the lover. The standoff is resolved when, unexpectedly, a Beefeater enters and orders "In the Queen’s Name, I charge you all to drop your swords and Daggers."* There is a short comedic play called ''The Tarantino Variation'' which is three men, each holding a gun to another's head. Then they realize they need to kill the person holding them at gunpoint, and switch, all the while bantering -- it's quite funny. The play ends with them each having one gun on each of the other men, walking off to lunch together.* The end (and perhaps other parts as well) of the one-act play "The Inspector Answers".* The ShowWithinAShow of ''The Pot Boiler'' ends with all of the characters holding one another at gunpoint and making threats. When the playwright admits that he has no idea how to end the play, [[RageAgainstTheAuthor all of them shoot him instead.]][[/folder]]

[[folder:Videogames]]* Subverted in the second chapter of the video game ''VideoGame/{{Killer7}}'': a group of diplomats are playing mah-jongg when one is accused of cheating. All four men stand up, pull their guns... and then shoot each other without a second's pause.** Before they reach for the weapons, one even expresses irritation that they're about to all die.* The video game ''VideoGame/FearEffect'' has one of these between two playable characters at a climactic moment. You get to [[MultipleEndings choose who fires first]], if either.* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'' ** The game features a three-way Mexican Standoff between [[spoiler:Gippal, Nooj, and Baralai]]. Actually, it happens *twice*, if you go around getting the optional scenes.** There's also a very brief Mexican Standoff between [[spoiler:Yuna, Rikku, and Paine when the latter two are [[DemonicPossession temporarily possessed by Shuyin]] in the Den of Woe.]] Probably not a true Standoff in the way that at least one party had no intention of harming the others.* ''Franchise/MassEffect'' is littered with Mexican standoffs with all sorts of people; whether they end peacefully, with someone getting shot in the face, or with a BlastOut depends mostly on the player's choices. ** In the most notable example in the [[VideoGame/MassEffect1 first game]], Shepard and [[spoiler:one of their own party members, Wrex,]] get into a standoff on Virmire over [[spoiler:blowing up a lab containing a cure for the krogan race's infertility, which is slowly killing them off]]. Getting out of the situation without [[spoiler:killing Wrex]] earns the player an Achievement for resolving "an impossible situation" with diplomacy. No better way to break a standstill than to have your buddy gun down your other buddy [[{{Backstab}} from behind him]] when things start getting hairy...** In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' Shepard then gets into another Mexican standoff [[spoiler: with whichever human squadmember survived Virmire. Ironically it is possible to have a different squadmate shoot the same person who did the exact same thing on Virmire.]]* Beautifully done in ''VideoGame/MaxPayne2TheFallOfMaxPayne'', as it actually makes sense. Both realize they're back to back with the enemy, so they turn around to shoot. The great part is if you look close enough, neither hesitate, and Mona Sax was just a few inches faster.* The prologue chapter of ''VideoGame/{{Wild ARMs 3}}'' has the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YamQg6LM1lM&t=4m15s following happen within a train car]] on [[ItWasADarkAndStormyNight A Dark And Stormy Night]]: [[TheHero The Heroine]] bursting through the door, TheLancer ''doing a reverse barrel roll through the side window'', TheBigGuy coming from nowhere, and TheSmartGuy casually walking in [[RuleOfCool all at the same time]] and ending with the latter three pointing their guns at each other while the heroine just watches.** This standoff lasts for quite a while because you return to this sight until you play every character's intro.* In ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', moves like Destiny Bond, Counter, Magic Coat, Sucker Punch, Metal Burst, and to a lesser extent, Bide and Endeavor can all heavily punish an opponent for attacking. If two Pokémon both carry such a move, and know that the other has one, things devolve into either this trope or risky overprediction.* In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'', Steve and Alfred get into a brief fight concluded when they get into a stalemate with Steve on the ground with both machine guns aimed at the latter and Alfred standing over and pointing his rifle at the face of the former. [[spoiler:[[HotBlooded Steve breaks the stalemate in a snap by unloading his guns into Alfred anyway.]] Who [[LargeHam probably didn't want to break the tension of the moment]].]]* Did we mention John Woo really likes this trope? In case it wasn't already evident, ''{{Stranglehold}}'' uses these as a regular gameplay mechanic where the player has a split second to dodge bullets and take out anyone who's holding him at gunpoint.* Samus vs Dark Samus on every occasion in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes''. Made even more awesome by the fact, at some times, they both walk while holding their cannons to each other.* Every multiplayer match in ''VideoGame/RedDeadRedemption'' begins with one.** Depending on the game type, up to 16 people against each other in one standoff.** There is a moment in the game where John is accused of cheating in poker by a German guy, the occupants of the table as well as some guys from the crowd enter one of these, and a lampshade is hung on the moment when the German comments, "There must be a name for this." (At which point the protagonist's gunslinging mentor suggests "An impasse.") Appropriately, the scene takes place in Mexico.* In ''VideoGame/SplinterCellChaosTheory'', one of these occurs between Sam and [[spoiler:Douglas Shetland. Shetland]] decides that [[GunpointBanter this is a good time to embark on a]] MotiveRant. It ends when [[spoiler:Shetland lowers his gun, saying, "I know you wouldn't shoot an old friend," at which point Sam (controlled by the player) shoots him in the head and [[BondOneLiner replies]], "You're right. I ''wouldn't'' shoot an old friend."]]** Unless [[spoiler:you lower your gun. Then Shetland tries to shoot Sam, only to get a knife in his gut.]]* In one of the side missions in ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}'', you participate in a "Truxican standoff", which is slightly less dramatic than the other listed examples due to the fact that everyone involved has [[DeflectorShields energy shielding]]. In another side mission, you defuse an all-NPC standoff by solving a logic puzzle.* Done by the three factions' flagships in the ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'' mission "A Step Between Stars". After Koren, captain of the Klingon Defense Force flagship IKS ''[=Bortasqu'=]'', claims the Jenolan DysonSphere as property of the Klingon Empire, Captain Va'Kel Shon of the ''Enterprise''-F says, no, we were here first.[[labelnote:*]]It's the same Dyson sphere the ''Enterprise''-D rescued Scotty from in Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration: "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E4Relics Relics]]".[[/labelnote]] Captain Tiaru Jarok of the RRW ''Lleiset'' tries to claim it for the Romulan Republic as a neutral party, which neither of the other two want since the Rommies already control the gateway to the Solanae Dyson sphere. Things could've gotten bad really fast if Tuvok hadn't talked everyone down.* ''VideoGame/GuildWars'' had this happen in Random Arenas every time a team had a ritualist, a Trap hunter, or both. Offensive Ritualists worked best when enemies were in range, and Trap hunters require players to get closer to use the traps. While trash mobs will rarely try to get away from the spirits range, players are ''far'' smarter than that and know they'll be slaughtered if they try and ShootTheMedicFirst. So they waited until someone got impatient and [[LeeroyJenkins leeroyed]], or won because the other team all decided to surrender or leave. This was one of the reasons that a time limit before both teams went into a sudden death round. (The other being [[{{Griefer}} Rangers with kiting abilities would make the matches run forever after three of their teammates died.]]* ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDead: Season 2'' - Episode 4 ends on this note as the protagonists are ambushed by a group of Russians who are out for revenge for being robbed earlier by two members of the protaganist's group. Each side points guns at each other arguing for the other to put their's down. [[spoiler: Clem then notices that Rebecca, who recently gave birth to a baby, has died from exhaustion and is reanimating as a Walker, threatening to eat her newborn which she had in her arms when she died. Clem (or Kenny if she bring this to the other's attention) is forced to shoot her to save the baby. But this sets off the Russians who open fire on the group.]]* This is the situation at the beginning of ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' between the three factions vying for control of the Mojave: the [[TheFederation New California Republic]], [[TheEmpire Caesar's Legion]], and [[TheChessmaster Mr. House]]. If any one of the three takes action against another, they'll be left weak and vulnerable to be picked off by the third. [[PlayerCharacter The Courier]] gets to [[KingmakerScenario decide which faction to support]] to break the standoff. [[spoiler: [[TakeAThirdOption Or can say "screw you" to all of the factions and takeover the Mojave him/herself]].]]* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' - "The Wrap Up" climaxes with a crazy standoff wherein a half-dozen parties end up with guns pointed at each other, including Michael, Steve Haines, Dave, a rogue FIB agent with an entire HRT for backup, a group of IAA agents including the BigGood from GrandTheftAutoIV and a private militia complete with helicopter support. Steve gets twitchy, shoots, and a massive BlastOut ensues.* One of the routes of ''VisualNovel/ZeroTimeDilemma'' has Q team end up in one. You can try to shoot Mira, Eric, or [[SheatheYourSword nobody]]. [[spoiler:Shooting Eric is the correct choice[[note]]Since he is [[LoveMakesYouDumb fairly confident]] that Mia won't shoot him[[/note]]]]. The timeline flowchart actually tells you that there's a [[TakeAThirdOption fourth option]], but good luck figuring out [[spoiler:that there's a fourth character who has been hidden from the player for the entire game]].* One trailer to ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'' featured a standoff between each of the faction representatives introduced so far: [[ThePaladin Rose]] has a shotgun aimed squarely at Alex's head; [[BlackMage Alex]] is ready to launch a fireball at Mei-Ling from point-blank range; [[MagicKnight Mei-Ling]] is holding a flaming sword to Rose's throat. Then [[CoolOldGuy Zuberi]] shows up and draws their attention to the Unutterable Lurker closing in on them. Cue EnemyMine scenario.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]* A metaporical example in Webcomic/AnEpicComic that involves only villains;** Hades and Bowsers are planning to backstab each other first and then take out the other villains.** Eggman and Wily also plan to take out each other first and then the others.** Scanty and Kneesocks plan to backstab [[spoiler:??? and Corset]] and then take over the universe with [[spoiler: ??? planning to backstab them and even expand on just taking over the universe.]]* The comic ''Webcomic/CtrlAltDel'' contains numerous examples of Mexican Standoffs.* Subverted in ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' between [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030108 Klaus and Dr. Beetle]]. As Gil points out, Beetle's strategy is flawed because he put all his strength in one large clank, and the Baron had a [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030110 backup fleet]].* ''Webcomic/IrregularWebcomic'' has the [[http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/484.html Bavarian standoff]], essentially, MexicanStandoff with chocolate cake.** Another LEGO comic, Brickworld Saga, had a truly massive standoff with over twenty participants on five different sides, including pirates, cyborgs, and the undead.* In ''Webcomic/TheLastDaysOfFoxhound'', Ocelot, Octopus, Wolf, and Scratch get involved in one of these in [[http://gigaville.com/comic.php?id=71 strip 71.]]* Subverted in an early arc of ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'': Tagon's Toughs [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2000-10-15 get into one]] with a small army, at which point the narrator describes the trope in detail. Then Tagon notices that his foes have armor while his allies don't, at which point the narrator points out that Tagon isn't even remotely descended from Mexican stock.** Not to mention he's outnumbered 5-3. Fortunately, it's resolved without shots being fired.** Later, Howard pulls another one, '''[[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2006-06-13 with entire fleets]]''', although not really since at this range the ''Plaited Daisies'' could probably shred the Battleplate, and '''eat''' the other ships.** And then Tagon [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2010-08-15 gets another one]] later.* Lampshaded and parodied a few times in ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance''. [[http://sluggy.com/daily.php?date=050327 An example,]] since in Timeless Space everyone's guns have a Mexican Standoff ''setting'' that makes them go ''[[DramaticGunCock chakat!]]'' when pointed.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Originals]]* It doesn't get more dramatic than Pete and Brian's "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBSi8qC0tFA Showdown]]". Hilariously done, with some StockPhrases to boot.* Parodied for comedic effect in the Creator/TomSka video "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSY-90rwNgE Standoffish]]"* This happens once in ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'' version one, between David Jackson, Jacob Starr, and Peri Barclay. By this point, Jacob's mind has become dangerously unstable due to the guilt and trauma he's experienced over the game's course clashing with the morals his police officer father taught him his whole life, so the situation devolves into a BlastOut when he suddenly turns on Peri and attacks him.** Another happens in version 3, this can be best described as 'Bobby Jacks vs. ''Everyone''', as at one point the aforementioned villain character had no fewer than ''six'' people pointing guns at him, whilst he reciprocated by pulling out [[GunsAkimbo both of his guns]] and returning the gesture. Fortunately, the situation was eventually ''diffused''.** Another v3 example is one that involves Lenny Priestly, holding Heath Trennoby hostage, has a gun pulled on him by [[AntiVillain Bobby Jacks]], while Shameeca Mitchell holds a gun at Lenny's sister Elizabeth, who is currently holding James Martinek hostage. Not to mention the three spectators who are watching from nearby. Unfortunately, just as things seem to be going good, Heath tries to attack Lenny. What results is James, Heath, and innocent spectator Lauren Howard being shot dead, [[CloudCuckooLander Anna Kateridge]] and [[{{Meganekko}} Lulu Altaire]] kidnapping Elizabeth, Lenny going on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, Bobby Jacks trying to hunt him down, and Shameeca realising she failed in her one job of trying to rescue James. So naturally, it doesn't end well for anyone.** A smaller scale example would also be Clio Gabriella vs [[LandDownUnder Brendan Wallace]]. Both with guns pointed at each other's heads. It lasts for several minutes, while Brendan manages to talk Clio out of doing anything rash, proclaiming that if she were to pull the trigger, he could pull the trigger on his gun just as fast, leaving them both dead. After a while, she runs off, and Brendan looks inside the gun to find there's not a single round inside. Cue LONG sigh of relief.* A Challenge Round is resolved like this in season one of ''Machinima/TheLeetWorld''. Ellis drops down behind Leeroy and takes aim, only to be held at gunpoint by Westheimer, who is in turn menaced by Cortez. It ends with a BlastOut (luckily, DeathIsCheap).---> '''Ellis:''' [[DramaticGunCock *Click*]] "Hold it right there, Bo. Reach for the sky."---> '''Westheimer:''' [[ClickHello *Click*]] "Hands up, perp!"---> '''Cortez:''' [[NoisyGuns *Click*]] "Prepare to die, Dog."* In the first season of ''WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC'', a bit of a one-sided Standoff occurs in the bar when ComicBook/NickFury holds a gun to [[spoiler:the robotic ComicBook/LexLuthor spy]] Lance M Donovan, and every hero in the bar responds by pointing whatever weapons they have (including [[ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} claws]], [[ComicBook/ThePunisher guns]], [[ComicBook/IronMan} pulse cannons]], [[ComicBook/SpiderMan web shooters]], and [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk fists of fury]]) at him.* ''WebVideo/CodeMENT'' in Episode 14 has this between Shirley, Mao, and Lelouch... except Lelouch is caught in the middle, unarmed. And if he moves, Shirley will shoot him. And if he doesn't, Mao will shoot him. [[ComedicSociopathy And that's why it's funny]].** [[spoiler:Shirley ends up shooting Lelouch [[GroinAttack (in the penis, apparently)]], and Mao asks if he's okay.]]-->'''Mao''': Lelouch, buddy, are you alright?-->'''Lelouch''': [[SarcasmMode I feel like sunshine right now!]]* WebVideo/HardlyWorking: Mexican Standoff has office workers so bored that they are delighted to get into Mexican Standoffs (and die), and points out only two people is just a standoff, not a Mexican Standoff.* Creator/FreddieWong + Series/KeyAndPeele + this trope = [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHQr0HCIN2w hilarity that must be seen to be believed.]]* While reviewing ''Devil'', WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic and Santa Christ have one to parody the movie, but this one actually comes off better because they have a history.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'':** Stan Smith references this, as it's part of the [[GoingThroughTheMotions procedure]] [[SlapSlapKiss of arguing with his wife]]. Though here, he refers to it as a "Creator/JohnWoo stand-off."** At the end of "Independent Movie", Stan, Roger, and Toshi's father Hideki celebrate hitting it big and then suddenly pull guns on each other. The screen goes black, a gunshot is heard, and Roger says that Hideki was the one who got shot.** At the end of "Hurricane!", Stan, [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Peter Griffin]], and [[WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow Cleveland Brown]] enter a three-way Mexican standoff.* In the pilot of ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'', the titular character's mother is taken hostage by TheMole, so he captures Lana and threatens her. Except that TheMole doesn't even care about Lana, and thus the MexicanStandoff is futile.* ''WesternAnimation/{{Arthur}}'', of all shows, uses a family-friendly version of this trope: instead of threatening each other with weapons, each of the kids threaten to destroy something important to another one of them. If George sharpens one of Brain's pencils for Muffy, Brain will drop a book on George's bubble-gum stegosaurus model, so Sue Ellen will throw Binky's rubber-band ball out the window, Muffy will put Francine's Power Kitten stickers on Brain's desk, so Francine will tear all of the pages out of Buster's [[CaptainErsatz Bionic Bunny]] comic book, Buster will eat all of Arthur's chocolate chip cookies, Fern will cut up her and Muffy's shared desk ruffle, etc. [[spoiler:Then Brain accidentally knocks the book onto the stegosaurus model and [[HilarityEnsues chaos ensues]]]].* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has one at the start of the MeleeATrois between Aang, Zuko, and Azula.* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'', "The One Wherein There is a Big Twist, Part 1", where a minor issue between the housemates flares into a standoff. Then Wooldoor leaps into the fray and produces a ridiculous amount of guns (in a ridiculous amount of arms), even going as far to shout "I'M NOT AFRAID TO DIE!" before pointing yet another gun at himself.* ''{{GI Joe}}'' plays with this bit when Shipwreck is confronted by Destro and the Dredknoks just after he dumped a chemical that makes water explode down the drain. To hold them off, Shipwreck has a lit match and threatens to ignite the treated water. Destro confidently tells him that's pointless since a triggering explosion is needed to set off the water. Shipwreck calls it a bluff and Destro dares him to find out. Shipwreck does and drops the match down the drain, only to learn he was not bluffing as nothing happens. Now with the Joe's trump card now worthless, the Dredknoks open fire, but Shipwreck dodges and that weapons fire provides the triggering explosion to set the water off.* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' when Dale turns to the bounty hunter and faces his target. Both drop their rifles and put their arms up... Then stand there until their arms get tired.** But not before they both covertly try to go for their guns... only to be scared by the other doing so, and both promptly surrender again.* ''WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2021}}'' took this trope to comedic excess in the episode "Let 'em Eat Corn", which climaxed in a 5-way Mexican Standoff, with each faction armed with a nuclear missile. It then ''anti''-climaxed when they all fire, and find out the nukes (all bought from the British) are duds.* Maggie gets caught in the middle of an [[TheMafia Italian-American]] MexicanStandoff in the climax of the "Moe Baby Blues" episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. Luckily, Moe is there to save the day. Yes, ''[[ButtMonkey Moe]]''.** In "The Seemingly Never-Ending Story" Snake, Mr. Burns, Rich Texan, and Moe were trying to get a pile of golden coins and all of them got weapons (well, Moe had a baseball bat but, once he realized the others had guns, he hid himself in the shadows and tried to make it seem he also had a gun). Rich Texan even described their situation as a "Mexican Standoff".* In keeping with its western theme, ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' episode "A Fistful of Energon" features one in the climax between the Autobots and Decepticons over two captured Starscream clones. The standoff breaks when the clones are also revealed to be living bombs that activate a timer to detonation.* On ''WesternAnimation/TuffPuppy'' in the episode "Share-a-Lair" T.U.F.F. and D.O.O.M. were surprised at seeing each other in the same office and proceeded to point their guns at each other to try and attack. Kitty managed to reason with them that if they both started shooting their office would get destroyed. * ''WesternAnimation/{{Castlevania}}'' ends the fight between Trevor and Alucard like this -- Trevor has a knife partially buried in Alucard's sternum, but wouldn't be able to fully stake him before Alucard rips his throat out with his fangs. The fact that Trevor's [[TakingYouWithMe perfectly willing to go through with it]] impresses Alucard enough that he ends the fight and agrees to work with Trevor against Dracula.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]* A Mexican Standoff is a heightened version of what is sometimes referred to as a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobbesian_trap Hobbesian Trap]] (after the [[HobbesWasRight philosopher]], not the [[ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes tiger]] who was also named after the philosopher). When two (or more) parties are both able to do harm to the others, and afraid of ''being'' harmed ''by'' the others, the trap is set. A great deal of effort has gone into providing ways to safely back out of the trap, at least on the national level; "Honor", where making a pre-emptive strike causes the nation to become a pariah; mutual defence treaties, where another nation will avenge any pre-emptive strike made against their ally, in order to discourage agressors; and international organisations like the U.N., who provide a way for nations in a Hobbesian trap to reduce their conflict to a war of words rather than arms. All three were considerations during the Cuban Missile Crisis, remarked on below[[note]]America did not want to be seen as a bully blasting a neighbouring nation back into the stone age; the U.N. provided a highly visible means of pointing out that the Soviets were being disingenous about what weaponry they had provided to Cuba; and the mutual defence treaties... actually made the stakes a lot worse, as the various treaties set up a worldwide game of DisasterDominoes[[/note]].* The "Sitting War" that occurred near the beginning of UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo.** Most specifically, the French-German border was quiet for seven months while Germany conquered Poland and Norway. The English and French together had a 4-to-1 numerical advantage over the Germans in the area, but the defenses of the Sigfried Line made the situation a stalemate.** This standoff is probably best considered as a three way, with the third party being the bitingly cold 39/40 winter. Once winter decided to back out however...* The UsefulNotes/ColdWar was one of these, with two superpowers and their allies [[MutuallyAssuredDestruction pointing enough nuclear weapons at each other to end human civilization if either one fired first]]. The notable exceptions being the UsefulNotes/KoreanWar, UsefulNotes/VietnamWar, and the UsefulNotes/SovietInvasionOfAfghanistan--and bear in mind that while the US directly fought in Korea and Vietnam, and the USSR in Afghanistan, the other side did not officially commit troops to any of these (although in practice they did provide clandestine support to their allies).** The UsefulNotes/CubanMissileCrisis was the most intense period of the Cold War; a standoff within a standoff.** Even with the end of the UsefulNotes/ColdWar, nuclear weapons will keep the standoff going in perpetuity. A ''Time'' [[http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1929553,00.html?iid=tsmodule editorial]] considers this preferable to the level of bloodshed the pre-nuclear World Wars exemplified.* Many hostage situations boil down to Mexican Standoffs-the police don't want to fire on the hostage taker for fear of causing him to kill the hostage, yet the hostage taker doesn't want to execute the hostage, as there's then no reason for the police to refrain from shooting.** That's why there's always a sniper attached to the police during hostage situations. Unless the hostage taker isn't standing near a window.[[/folder]]